Filenews 26 February 2022 - by Marilena Panayi
At a time when the vaccination programs both in Cyprus and at European level seem to have "reached a ceiling" with the new vaccinations carried out being minimal in recent weeks, the discussion, rather, focuses on the need to administer a 4th dose of vaccine to elderly, and immunosuppressed people, since the data recorded daily concerning the rates of serious illness and deaths already give serious indications of a possible decline of the immunity achieved by administering the 3rd dose to these specific groups of the population.
At the same time, however, the discussions between scientists, in recent days, and following a relevant opinion of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have been extended to the administration of a 3rd dose of a vaccine against Covid-19 to children over 12 years of age, with the dialogue having already been transferred to the National Vaccination Committee of Cyprus, which yesterday released its relevant decision, giving a green light to the reinforcement vaccination, only of children belonging to the vulnerable groups of the population.
According to its usual practice, of course, the EMA, in its opinion on children, did not give a specific direction to the EU Member States since, as it said: "The decision on whether to administer a booster dose (to children over 12 years of age), it is imperative to take into account additional factors, such as the extent of the spread of the virus in the specific age group, the severity of the disease caused in younger people and the known risks that exist, mainly due to the very rare side effect of myocarditis (...) As in previous opinions on vaccination, the responsibility for decision-making lies with the competent authorities of each Member State who are called upon to decide on the course of their vaccination programs.
In fact, the choice of the EMA to give its opinion first on the strengthening vaccination of children and not on the administration of a 4th dose to elderly and immunosuppressed people, resulted in the development of three different "schools" among the members of the scientific community in the previous days.
At European level, the first school, prefers the general remedial vaccination of children, the second sets as a priority the second reinforcement vaccination of elderly, and immunosuppressed people (4th dose) and the third supports the view that the 3rd dose of vaccine as far as children are concerned, should rather be limited to children belonging to high-risk groups and more emphasis should be placed on strengthening vaccination coverage in general at younger ages. On the basis of the third view, the decision of the competent Cypriot Authority was taken, as can be seen, while a fourth opinion, which may prevail in the coming days in Cyprus, combines the second and third "school", preferring remedial vaccination of children over 12 belonging to high-risk groups and simultaneous administration of 4th dose to the elderly, and immunosuppressed;
In Cyprus, at the moment, all data are under study, which are recorded daily by all the competent departments of the Ministry of Health.
As far as the elderly are concerned, from 1 to 24 February, a total of 76 deaths were recorded, of which 49 involved people over the age of 75. Of these, 32 people with no history of vaccination, 7 people partially vaccinated, one person fully vaccinated and 9 people had received all three doses of the vaccine.
The total deaths in February include 50 people with no history of vaccination, 12 partially vaccinated people, 2 fully vaccinated people and 12 people who had received all three doses. In the month of January, a total of 96 deaths had been recorded, with 9 involving people who had received all 3 doses of the vaccine.
Regarding the course of the vaccination program, during the ten-day period of 9-19 February 2022, a total of 20,883 vaccinations were carried out, of which only 1,345 were for the first dose, 15,186 vaccinations were for a third dose and 4,352 for a second dose.
The vaccination coverage rate was in 88.1% of the adult population (with at least one dose) while the vaccination coverage rate in the total population was at 75.1%.
As of February 8, the rate of vaccination coverage in the adult population stood at 88% (with at least one dose) while the percentage in the total population had reached 74.9%.
Finally, and with regard to the vaccination coverage of children, until 19 February, the data shows that, for children 5-11 years old, the rate was at 8.1%, for children 12-15 years old at 43.6%, and for children 16-17 at 54.3%. In the immediately preceding ten days, the percentages were 6.4%, 43% and 53% respectively.
Ch. Petrou: "It is important to support the elderly and the vulnerable"
The associate professor of Pharmacology, member of the UGS for the pandemic and member of the UGS, Christos Petrou, took a clear position on the matter. "At the moment, the most important element that we have in front of us, is the hospitalizations of the elderly and that continue to be increased, and at the same time the increase in the number of people who are hospitalized or dying while they have received all 3 doses of the vaccine and with the data we know these are elderly or elderly people where a long period has elapsed since they had a third dose and unfortunately their immunity is deductible."
The EMA, he added, "chose to take a position first on the issue of administering a 3rd dose to children and adolescents".
Personally, he said, "I have suggested administering a 4th dose (within 4 months of taking the 3rd dose) only to people over 75 years of age, and to immunocompromised people." Regarding the administration of a 3rd dose to children over 12 years of age "my opinion agrees with the decision to vaccinate only vulnerable and immunosuppressed children and not universally administer a third dose to all children. At the same time, I believe that we should place emphasis on increasing the rate of vaccination coverage at these ages."
